Rank 10 of 10 · Antarctic operator comparison

Holland America Antarctica Cruise Review 2026: What "No Landings" Actually Means

Holland America Line ranks tenth in this ten-operator comparison with a total score of 44.8 — not because the ship or the trip is poor, but because the product is categorically different from the other nine. Its ~1,964-passenger ships do not land passengers in Antarctica at all. It suits travellers who want to see Antarctica from a comfortable, familiar large-ship experience without the physical demands of small-ship landings; it should not be judged against expedition operators on the same terms.

44.8

At a glance

Fleet
Oosterdam, Zuiderdam
Ice class
None
Antarctic capacity
~1,964
Landing style
No landings — scenic cruising only
IAATO membership
Not published — not stated either way
Price from
$2,000
Traveller rating
3.5–4.0
Total score
44.8

How it scores

Shore time (35%)0 — no landings are made anywhere in the Antarctic itinerary.0.0
Rating (30%)3.5–4.0, the lowest rating range in the ranking.75
Price/value (20%)*The highest score in the ranking — the lowest absolute price by a wide margin, for a different category of product.100
Expedition depth (15%)*The lowest score in the ranking — no landings, no Zodiacs, no expedition-staff role beyond lecturing.15

*Editorial factor. Full reasoning and formula: methodology.

The fleet, and why it doesn't land

Oosterdam and Zuiderdam each carry roughly 1,964 passengers, with no ice classification. Under the Antarctic Treaty System's restriction on large vessels, ships carrying more than 500 passengers do not land passengers in Antarctica at all — Holland America's Antarctic product is scenic cruising along the coast only. This site states no position on the operator's IAATO membership status, since that detail is not published for Holland America and should not be guessed at.

What reviewers say about Holland America in Antarctica

Aggregate rating: 3.5–4.0 (Cruise Critic / TripAdvisor, Oosterdam sailings)

Expedition team

Onboard lecture programming about Antarctica and South America is consistently praised, even by reviewers disappointed by other parts of the trip.

Cruise Critic
Expectations

Reviewers split on the scenic-cruising format: some are content watching penguins, whales and glaciers from the balcony, while others feel the absence of any landing undercuts the "Antarctica" promise.

Cruise Critic / TripAdvisor
Ship & cabins

Multiple reviewers describe the ship as aging for a bucket-list itinerary — cabins lacking drawers, bathtubs instead of showers, and dated fittings, with at least one calling it the worst cruise experience they'd had.

Cruise Critic
Food

Dining-room meals are rated positively, but the main buffet draws recurring complaints about inconsistency and long lines.

Cruise Critic

Who it suits, who it does not

Suits

  • Travellers who want to see Antarctica from the deck of a large, familiar cruise ship
  • Travellers for whom price is the deciding factor and landings are not required

Does not suit

  • Travellers who expect to set foot in Antarctica
  • Travellers comparing this directly against expedition operators on the same criteria

FAQ

Does Holland America land passengers in Antarctica?

No. Under the Antarctic Treaty System, vessels carrying more than 500 passengers cannot land passengers in Antarctica at all; Holland America's Antarctic product is scenic cruising along the coast only.

Why does Holland America rank last if the price/value score is the highest?

Because price/value is only 20% of the total score. Shore time is 35% and Holland America scores zero there, since it makes no landings — a low overall score reflecting a different product category, not a poor cruise.

Is a Holland America Antarctica cruise a real Antarctica trip?

It's a real trip to Antarctic waters and coastline, viewed from the ship, without ever going ashore. Whether that satisfies "seeing Antarctica" is a personal call this page leaves to the reader, not a verdict this site makes for them.

Related

Official site: hollandamerica.com · full ranking of ten Antarctic operators · methodology

HX (rank 9) Poseidon Expeditions (rank 1)